our death of cold; and no wonder, seeing that
it often freezes at night in this season. I'll tell you what we'll do.
There's not a dog in that farm which I have just visited, and there are
outhouses in plenty. Why not make our way to one of them and make a
bed in some straw or hay if possible."

In any case active exercise was what was required by Jules and Stuart,
for after their immersion in the river, and the thorough soaking they
had received, lying still in the grass at the side of the road waiting
for Henri's return--a cold and chilly business at any time--had become
doubly cold. They were chilled to the bone now, their teeth chattering
so hard that it was with difficulty they could speak, while a natural
appetite--an appetite increased by their enforced abstention from food
during a whole day, their rapid crossing of the country since they had
broken out of Ruhleben, and their movements on this evening--was dulled
by the temperature to which their bodies had been lowered.
"B--b--beastly cold," Stuart admitted, and he was the very last
individual to grumble as a general rule. "S--s--sound c--c--common
sense, Henri. Let's get off to these b--buildings and search for some
hay. Somehow or other we must get some warmth into our bodies."

He stood in the darkness before the other two, swinging his arms with
vigour and trying to beat some sort of circulation into his frigid
fingers; then, picking up the basket as if to increase the warmth of
his body by added effort, he went off beside Henri, Jules marching on
the farther side, his teeth still chattering, utterly cold and
miserable. However, the sharp walk to the farm made them feel warmer,
so that they had almost stopped shivering by the time they reached the
yard. From outside the window of that front room, which was still
illuminated, they listened to the sound of the notes of the organ which
was still being played, and to the music of that deep bass voice still
warbling in the interior.

"Jolly nice it sounds too," said Stuart, "and I reckon that
anyone--even a German--ought to be able to sing when in a comfortable
room, probably with a nice blazing fire. A nice fire, Henri--a nice
fire. George! wouldn't that be ripping!"

Henri led them on round the end of the building, through the
wicket-gate into the yard, and halted again outside the kitchen door.
If only they had dared enter in a body, if only they could have found a
welcome in that warm place, h